After making four days ago our maiden call here, we now returned coming from Quebec. Departure Quebec was in interesting experience as I had to turn the ship 180o on the river, as due to the morning current we were facing the same way as whence we came and that was not the way we were going in the evening. So after a great day in port we left on time and after letting go the lines I let the current come between the ship and the dock and that pushed us nicely off the dock.
Before we could make the swing we had a good look around the ship. It was a nice day and late in the afternoon and that normally means plenty of “Sunday sailors” round the ship. The moment the ship starts the swing on a river with current, you can not easily stop if there suddenly a small yacht or canoe in the way. Luckily nothing in sight except a German cargo ship, the Uta, on its way to Montreal. So when that ship cleared we put the rudders hard a port, a kick on the sb engine and off we went. The Veendam has a rudder behind each propeller so she steers extremely well. I got a nice swing going very quickly and the pilot was watching in amazed silence how quickly the Veendam spun around on the river. Well it gave him an idea of how fast the ship could move if necessary.
We sailed down the St. Lawrence until 1 am and then entered the Saguenay fjord, dropping the anchor at 5 am. It was again a glorious day with wind still weather and sunny skies. On departure I made a 360o swing in front of the dock as it seemed that all the locals had assembled on the dock to see the ship sail. So a nice chance to score some brownie points for the company. Departure was set for 4 pm. and thus still full day light, with the sun slowly setting on the trees and about half of them already turning red, brown and yellow. The return trip through the Saguenay fjord was stunning. After 25 miles we came to the statue of the Virgin Mary. This was erected in 1881 and is perched on a cliff about 500 feet above water. The original statue was made of wood and has been restored three times since.
It was erected by a local trader called Charles Robitaille who had some time before nearly lost his life when going through the ice with his horse. He was convinced that due to his extensive praying to the Virgin Mary he was saved. When later he fell gravely ill he promised to do something extra ordinary for her, if he survived. He did survive and had a 50 feet high wooden statue sculpted of the Virgin Mary, by one of the most famous sculptors in Quebec. The statue was taken by boat in three pieces to Cap Trinite in Saguenay fjord and erected on the edge of the cliff. The statue is painted white with a blue robe.
Since then the cruise ships stop there and the narrator tells about the history and the Ave Maria is played over the P.A system. As our narrator was playing several versions by different artists, I decided to swing the ship slolwy through 360o while all this music was played, so that everybody in all the lounges could see the statue and not just those on deck or in the crows nest. Then we sailed on to pilot station at the town of Escomin on the north shore of the St. Lawrence, to disembark the pilots and to continue our cruise to the next port of call Charlotte Town.
September 23, 2007 at 7:51 am
This is the most fantastic site! Once I found out about it I have been reading everyday. I found it just as you got back to the ship in NY. I also read what you did before that and found it very interesting.
I really liked your comments about the New England ports as we live in NH and have been to the ports, but not on a ship. My husband went to high school in Newport RI, so we are most familiar with that port.
Not only are we learning a lot about the ports and navigating a ship on the tides/currents, but the culture of these areas.
We are most excited as we try to cruise once each year and we are lucky, I feel, that we will be on the Veendam on Oct 21, from Tampa, to the western Caribbean. While onboard we will miss reading your comments, but we will when we return home.
Thank you for taking the time to give us landlubbers something to do while we wait, impatiently for our cruise.
Linda Bento
September 23, 2007 at 8:13 am
Captain Albert: Just a quick note to tell you how much we are enjoying our written words! Its like sitting down for coffee or a beer and hearing what the behind the scenes looks like.
We are sailing on the Veendam on February 3, 2008 will you possibly still be there?
The Dearmin’s from Idaho
Kevin and Kathy Dearmin
February 8, 2008 at 2:07 am
Dear Captain Albert,
Your article cast light on my poor knowlege about the statue of Virgin Mary. My husband and I had a grand world cruise in 2006 on the Japanese biggest cruise ship named ASUKA II. Saguenay fjord had not been included in the official schedule, but very luckily the Atlantic Ocean was gentle and calm for us to cross in less time and we had seven hours before the next port Quebec. Our captain decided to take us to Saguenay fjord. Nobody, however, knew the history and details of the statue.
Recently I opened my blog site and started to put the cruise articles. I would be most obliged if you allow me to translate and put a part of your writing about Saguenay fjord in Japanese on my page. I can hardly find a better article than yours either in English and Japanese sites. And if you do, will it be too much to ask if I may copy your photo on this page to affix to the translation?
Even if your answer is ‘no’, I enjoyed your articles very much.
Thank you!
magnifika
February 8, 2008 at 2:28 am
Dear Captain Albert,
Your article cast light on my poor knowlege about the statue of Virgin Mary. I had a grand world cruise in 2006. Crossing the Atlantic luckily took less time and gave us extra time to visit Saguenay fjord before Quebec. But no one had enough knowledge about the place. I would like to translate your article into Japanese with the copy of your top photo aside for my then-fellow-passengers on my blog site. Would you allow me to do so?
magnifika